Boot sling

ABSTRACT

A SLING FOR BOOTS INCLUDING A FLEXIBLE STRAP WITH A PAIR OF SPACED-APART LOOPS ATTACHED TO THE STRAP AT EACH END THEREOF. THE LOOPS OF EACH PAIR ARE POSITIONABLE ABOUT THE TOE AND HEEL OF A BOOT. A FRICTIONAL SNUBBING LINK IS PROVIDED TO PERMIT ADJUSTMENT OF THE SPACING BETWEEN THE LOOPS OF EACH PAIR FOR THEIR POSITIONING ABOUT THE BOOT AND FOR RELEASABLY SECURING THE LOOPS IN SNUG ENGAGEMENT WITH THE BOOT.

' United States Patent Michael R. Derouin c/o Elite Mountain Products Box 672, Aspen, Colo. 81611 Feb. 1 l, 1969 June 28, 1971 inventor Appl. No. Filed Patented BOOT SLING 6 Claims, 6 Drawing Figs.

US. Cl. 224/5, 211/34, 224/45 Int. Cl B65d 63/00 Field of Search 224/5, 5-26, 45-16, 49-58; 21 1/34, 35

I 56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,679,937 6/1954 Fulster 211/34 3,259,284 7/1966 Olson 224/45(. 16)X Primary Examiner Robert G. Sheridan AttorneyHarris, Kiech, Russell & Kern ABSTRACT: A sling for boots including a flexible strap with a pair of spaced-apart loops attached to the strap at each end thereof. The loops of each pair are positionable about the toe and heel of a boot. A frictional snubbing link is provided to permit adjustment of the spacing between the loops of each pair for their positioning about the boot and for releasably securing the loops in snug engagement with the boot. 5

PATENTEU JUN28 m I v v 5 I Ill? //v l/ENTOR M/CHAEL R DEROU/N BY MS A TTORNEYS HARRIS, K/ECH, RUSSELL (9c KER/v BOOT SLING THE DISCLOSURE This invention relates to slings or carriers and more particularly to a sling for a pair of boots or the like. Even more specifically, the sling is particularly adapted for use with ski boots of the newer synthetic compositions. Although principally adapted as a sling for carrying or transporting ski boots, the device may have other various and related uses with boots or other similar articles and all such uses are intended to be within the scope of the invention.

Ski boot construction and particularly the composition or materials employed therein have changed appreciable in recent years. New synthetic materials such as rubberized fiber glass have become increasingly popular in the manufacture of ski boots as well as related articles. The new synthetic coinpositions are significantly different from the older traditional leather-type boots with respect to the proper maintenance and conditioning of the boot. Specifically pertinent is the now obsolete problem of warping common with the leather-type boot, particularly of the sole portion. Additionally, new methods of sealing the sole of leather-type boots have also eliminated in certain constructions the problem of the warping of the boot sole. Accordingly, where such warping is no longer a-problem, boots can be stored or transported without mounting the boot on a bulky solid metal, wood, or plastic press device of the type previously used to lock the boot to the device to prevent warping. However, no means or device aside from these bulky presses is available for the easy transport or carrying of boots by the user.

Accordingly, I have invented a novel sling for boots or the like to provide a means of carrying the boots when not worn by the user. My sling is easily attached to the boots for use as a carrier and is constructed of flexible materials to permit its folding and collapse into a relatively compact size when not so used. When the boots are attached to my sling, they can be carried by holding a strap of the sling by the hand of the user or by comfortably placing the strap over the shoulder.

More particularly, my sling includes a flexible strap member with a pair of spaced-apart loop members attached at each end thereof. Each pair of loop members is positionable about a boot, one member about the toe portion and the other member about the heel portion. A frictional snubbing device is provided for each pair ofloop members and a portion of the strap member therebetween to permit adjustment of the spacing between the loops for their positioning about the boot and for releasably securing them in snug engagement with the boot.

It is an object of my invention, therefore, to provide a sling for boots or the like which is easily and inexpensively manufactured and quickly assembled for use.

Another object is to provide such a sling which is flexible in construction to permit its-collapse and folding into a compact size when not in use.

A further object of my invention is to provide such a sling which may be adjustably positioned about the heel and toe of a boot and releasably secured in snug engagement therewith.

The invention, both as to its organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawmg.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of my sling;

FIG. 2 is a enlarged fragmentary plan view of the sling of FIG. 1 showing the connection at a friction link;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary side view of the sling of FIG. 1 at a friction link;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 with the friction link raised;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of my sling shown attached to a pair of boots; and

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary side view similar to FIG. 3 of another embodiment of my invention.

Referring now to the drawing, FIGS. 1 through 5 show a preferred embodiment of my sling which is indicated by the reference numeral 10. The sling 10 includes a flexible strap member 12 with two pairs of loop members 14, 16 and 18, 20 attached thereto, one pair at each end. Each pair of loop members l4, l6 and 18; 20 are attached in spaced-apart relation to the strap 12, and means 22 and 24, respectively, are provided to adjust the spacing therebetween.

Each pair of loop members l4, l6 and 18, 20 are positionable about a respective boot where one of the loop members 14 or 18 is positioned about the toe portion of the boot while the other loop member of the pair 16 or 20 is positioned about the heel portion of the boot. By adjusting the spacing between the pairs of loop members, the sling 10 may be adapted for various sizes of boots and may be snugly attached about any such boot. When a pair of boots is attached to the sling 10, the. loaded sling may be carried by the hand or may be carried comfortably over the users shoulder.

More particularly, the strap member 12 may include a middle portion 26 and outer portions 28 and 30. The strap 12 may be constructed of any flexible foldable material, for example, such as a l-inch wide nylon-type webbing material with a tensile strength of 2,500 pounds. The loop members l4, l6, l8, and 20 are constructed of a strong, flexible material such as 3/16-inch diameter polypropylene cord and are formed by joining a length of cord at its free ends by a metal clamp member 32 (FIG. 2) to form a continuous loop for the respective loop member.

The inner loop members 14 and 18, which may be approximately 9 inches in circumference, are sized for positioning about the toe portion of a boot and are attached to the strap member 12 at or near the ends of the middle portion 26. The middle portion 26 is folded back and stitched as at 34 (FIG. 2) to form a closure about the respective loop member and preferably about the clamp 32 as indicated. The remaining loop members 16 and 20, which may be approximately 11 inches in circumference, are positionable preferably about the heel portions of the boots and are attached to the outer portions 28 and 30, respectively, of the strap member 12 in a manner similar to the attachment of the inner two loops 14 and 18 by folding an end of the respective strap portion 28 or 30 back about the loop member and the clamp and stitching the tip of the strap portion to the remaining portion of the strap. In this manner, the loop members are securely attached to a portion of the strap member 12 and the clamp members 32 are preferably placed within the fold of the strap portion so as not to mar or scratch the boot when the sling 10 is positioned thereabout.

Each pair of loop members 14, 16 and 18, 20 are adjustably spaced-apart by adjustment or spacing means 22 and 24, respectively. Preferably, the adjustment means 22 and 24 are nickel-steel frictional snubbing or link members 36 and 38,

respectively. As indicated in FIGS. 2 through 4, the middle strap member 26 is looped through a slot 40 in one end 42 of the snubbing link 38. After the end of the strap portion 26 is fitted through the slot 40, the loop member 18 is attached at the end, and the strap portion 26 is now in a sense locked to the snubbing link 38. The outer strap portion 30 is looped through slots 44 and 46 in the snubbing link 38 and the loop member 20 is then attached to one end of the strap portion 30 as previously indicated. A large loop or fold-back portion 48 is formed and stitched in the other end of the outer strap portion 30 to provide a finger grip or hold in this strap portion. The pair of loop members 14, 16 and the outer strap portion 28 with its corresponding fold-back portion or finger grip 50 are formed in a similar manner. The complete sling 10 is assembled and is ready for use.

By pulling on the finger grip 48 or the loop member 20 of the strap portion 30, the strap portion 30 will slide through the slots in the snubbing link 38 and the spacing between the loop members 20 and 18 can be varied and adjusted. The other pair of loop members 14, 16 is similarly adjustable. In this manner the sling 10 can be adjusted to position the loop members about the toe and heel portions of any size boots, since the critical dimension in the sling will be the spacing between each pair of loops. To attach a pair of loops to a boot, the larger or outer loop member 16 or 20 is positioned about the heel portion of the boot with the snubbing link 36 or 38 facing out (as appearing in FIG. 2). The other of the pair of loop members 14 or 18 is then positioned about the toe portion of the boot. By pulling toward the heel of the boot on the folded or finger grip portion 48 or 50 of the outer strap portion 30 or 28, the loop members of the respective pairs are adjustably pulled together and are tightened in snug engagement with the boot.

The loop members will fit within grooved portions 52 and 54 (FIG. of the heel and toe portions of the boot which are commonly provided for attaching the boot to a ski. Where such grooved portions are not provided on the boot, the loop members will fit about the ends of the sole of the boot at the respective toe or heel and can easily by snugly attached thereto.

Where a friction-type snubbing link 36 or 38 is employed. the loop members can be releasably secured to the respective boot. When the pair of loop members is pulled into snug engagement with the boot, the outer strap portion 30 or 28 will lie adjacent to the sole of the boot and the fractional snubbing link 38 or 36 will prevent the strap portion from slipping clue to the frictional engagement between the strap and the grooves 44 and 46 of the snubbing link device (FIGS. 3 and 5), thereby securing or locking the sling to the boot. To release the sling, the snubbing link 38 or 36 is flipped or raised upwardly (FlG. 4)which will release the tension in the outer strap portion 30 or 28 and the locking action of the link, permitting the adjustment of the spacing between the loop members to loosen them from their snug engagement with the boot. A means for releasably securing the sling to the boot is therefore provided.

When the sling is attached to the boots as in FIG. 5, the middle strap portion 26 may be held by the hand of the user to carry the boots or this strap portion may be placed over the users shoulder to carry the boots comfortably over the shoulder. When the sling 10 is not employed for carrying the boots, it is easily folded or collapsed into an extremely compact shape due to the flexibility of the strap and loop members. When so collapsed, the sling 10 will easily fit within a coat pocket or the like for easy transport and access.

FIG. 6 illustrates another embodiment of my invention wherein a sling 10a includes a flexible strap member 60 and a friction-type snubbing link 62. In this embodiment, a loop member 64 is attached to an end of the strap 60 while a second loop member 66 is attached directly from the snubbing link 62. The loop member 64 is the outer member of the pair and is positionable about the heel of the boot. The strap member 60 is threaded through slots 68, 70 and 72 in the link 62, as indicated and in this manner the spacing between the top members 64 and 66 may be adjusted. Since the snubbing link 62 is a friction-type link, the sling 10a may be releasably secured in snug engagement with a boot. The other end of the sling 100 (not shown) is similar to the end shown to enable the attachment ofa pair of boots for carrying by the user either by hand or over the shoulder as previously described.

Although I have described in some detail embodiments of my invention, changes, modifications, and substitutions may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invenspacing of said loop members between a first spacin wherein said loop members may be loosely posltione about the heel and toe portions of the boot, respectively, and a second spacing wherein said loop members snugly engage the boot.

2. A sling as defined in claim 1 including means for releasably securing said loop members in said second spacing.

3. A sling as defined in claim 2 wherein said securing means and said adjusting means include a frictional snubbing device engaging said portion of said strap member between said loop members.

4. A sling for boots, or the like, including:

a flexible strap member;

a pair of spaced-apart first loop members attached to said strap member at one end thereof, one of said first loop members being positionable about the heel portion of a first boot, the other of said first loop members being positionable about the toe portion thereof;

a pair of spaced-apart second loop members attached to said strap member at the other end thereof, one of said second loop members being positionable about the heel portion of a second boot, the other of said second loop members being positionable about the toe portion thereof; and

first and second means for adjusting the lengths of the portions of said strap member between said first loop members and said second loop members, respectively, so as to adjust the spacings of said first loop members and said second loop members, respectively, between first spacings wherein said loop members of each pair may be loosely positioned about the heel and toe portions of the corresponding boot and second spacings wherein said loop members of each pair snugly engage the respective boot.

5. A sling as defined in claim 4 including first and second means for releasably securing said first and second loop members, respectively, in said second spacings.

6. A sling as defined in claim 5 wherein said first and second adjusting means and said first and second securing means each includes a frictional snubbing device engaging said portion of said strap member between the corresponding loop members. 

